Mock Trials
Designed to expose mock jurors to a formal adversarial proceeding in the trial venue, Mock Trials put the key facts, themes, theories, graphics, and witness testimonies before a group of jury-eligible people.
Outside counsel provides an attorney to represent each party, who then presents his or her respective case.​
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The format of a Mock Trial can vary depending on the goals of the research and the complexity of the case, for example:
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A One-Day Mock Trial typically includes both the plaintiff’s and defendant’s case summary presentations, as well as the plaintiff’s rebuttal. These presentations can include video clips of key witnesses.​
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A Two-Day (or more) Mock Trial usually follows the trial format more closely; that is, in addition to summary presentations and plaintiff rebuttal, it includes direct and cross-examination of live or video-recorded witnesses.​
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Regardless of the Mock Trial format, at the conclusion of the cases in chief, the consultant reads an abbreviated set of Judge’s Instructions to the mock jurors, who are then divided into groups of eight to ten mock jurors. These groups of deliberating juries are carefully designed to ensure that they are as equal as possible in terms of demographics as well as plaintiff or defense support.
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During deliberations, each of the juries receives a verdict form, elect a foreperson, and then deliberates to a verdict. Thereafter, all mock jurors are reassembled to participate in a consultant-facilitated plenary focus group.
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Throughout the Mock Trial, all presentations, juror deliberations, and the end-of-the-day debrief are fed via closed-circuit TV to a client view room and a full written report of findings and recommendation is provided after the results have been synthesized.